Semiconductor integrated circuits with power reduction mechanism

ABSTRACT

This invention is to reduce the power dissipation of a semiconductor integrated circuit chip when it is operated at an operating voltage of 2.5 V or below. To achieve the object, a switching element is provided in each circuit block within the semiconductor integrated circuit chip. The constants of the switching element are set so that the leak current in the switching element of each circuit block in their off-state is smaller than the subthreshold current of the MOS transistors within the corresponding circuit block. The active current is supplied to the active circuit blocks, while the switching elements of the non-active circuit blocks are turned off. Thus, the dissipation currents of the non-active circuit blocks are limited to the leak current value of the corresponding switching elements. As a result, the sum of the dissipation currents of the non-active circuit blocks is made smaller than the active current in the active circuit blocks. Since the dissipation currents of the non-active circuit blocks can be reduced while the active current is caused to flow in the active circuit blocks, the power dissipation in the semiconductor integrated circuit chip can be reduced even in the active state.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 178,020 filed Jan. 6, 1994 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,144.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is relevant to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/972,545 filed on Nov. 6, 1992 in the names of T. Kawahara et al., and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/045,792 filed on Apr. 14, 1993 in the names of M. Horiguchi et al., the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to semiconductor integrated circuits suitable for high-speed and low-power operation, and particularly to a semiconductor integrated circuit formed of small-geometry MOS transistors.

The semiconductor integrated circuits have so far been developed toward the scaling down of MOS transistors. However, since the minute structure of MOS transistors reduces their breakdown voltage the more as the degree of the minuteness becomes greater, the operating voltage of the small-geometry MOS transistors must be lowered, as described in International Symposium on VLSI Technology, Systems and Applications, Proceedings of Technical Papers, pp.188-192(May 1989). The operating voltages of the semiconductors used in the battery-operated portable electronic apparatus must be further reduced for their low power consumption.

In order to maintain their high-speed operation under reduced operating voltages, it is also necessary to decrease the threshold voltage (V_(T)) of the MOS transistors. The reason for this is that the operating speed is governed by the effective gate voltage of the MOS transistors, or the remainder of the subtraction of V_(T) from the operating voltage, or that it increased with the increase of this effective gate voltage. For example, in a 16-gigabit DRAM which is expected to have 0.15 μm or below in effective channel length, about 4 nm in gate oxide film thickness, 1 V in standard operating voltage within chip and about 1.75 V in boosted word line voltage, the constant current threshold voltage of transistors is calculated to be -0.04 V. The term, constant current threshold voltage of transistors is the gate-source voltage under the conditions of a ratio, 30 of effective channel width to effective channel length and a drain current of 10 nA. In this case, the substrate-source voltage is 0, the junction temperature is 25° and a typical condition is assumed. For simplicity, the threshold voltage of p-channel MOS transistors is shown with the opposite sign.

When V_(T) is reduced, however, the drain current cannot be completely cut off due to the drain current characteristic of the subthreshold region of MOS transistors. This problem will be described with reference to FIG. 22A which shows a conventional CMOS inverter. When the input signal IN to the CMOS inverter has a low level (=V_(ss)), the n-channel MOS transistor M_(N) is turned off. When the input signal IN has a high level (=V_(cc)), the p-channel MOS transistor M_(P) is turned off. Therefore, in either case, from the ideal point of view, no current flows from the high source voltage V_(cc) through the CMOS inverter to the low source voltage V_(ss), or ground potential.

When the threshold voltage V_(T) of the MOS transistors is reduced, however, the subthreshold characteristic cannot be neglected. As shown in FIG. 22B, the drain current I_(DS) in the subthreshold region is proportional to the exponential function of the gate-source voltage V_(GS), and expressed by the following equation (1). ##EQU1## where W is the channel width of the MOS transistors, I₀ and W₀ are the current value and channel width used when V_(T) is defined, and S is the subthreshold swing (the reciprocal of the gradient of the V_(GS) -log I_(DS) characteristic). Thus, the drain current in the subthreshold region (, or the subthreshold current) flows even under V_(GS) =0. The subthreshold current can be expressed by the following equation (2). ##EQU2##

When the input signal to the CMOS inverter shown in FIG. 22A is not changed, or when it is not operated, the off-state transistor of the CMOS inverter is at V_(GS) =0. Therefore, the current flowing from the high source voltage V_(cc) through the CMOS inverter to the low source voltage V_(ss), or ground potential is the current I_(L) which flows in the off-state transistor of the CMOS inverter.

This subthreshold current, as shown in FIG. 22B, is exponentially increased from I_(L) to I_(L) ' when the threshold voltage is decreased from V_(T) to V_(T) '.

Although the increase of V_(T) or the reduction of S reduce the subthreshold current as will be seen from the equation (2), the increase of V_(T), incurs the reduction of the speed due to the decrease of the effective gate voltage, while the reduction of S will be difficult for the following reason.

The subthreshold swing S can be expressed by using the capacitance C_(0X) of the gate dielectric and the capacitance C_(D) of the depletion region under the gate as in the following equation (3). ##EQU3## where k is the Boltzmann constant, T is the absolute temperature and q is the elementary charge. As will be seen from the equation (3), the condition of S≦kT l_(n) 10/q is limited for any values of C_(0X) and C_(D). Thus, it is difficult for S to be reduced to 60 mV or below at room temperature (about 300 k).

Thus, in the semiconductor integrated circuit including MOS transistors with a low value of V_(T) the amount of DC current consumption of non-operating circuits is remarkably increased because of the phenomenon mentioned above when the operating voltage becomes low (for example, 2 V or 2.5 V). Particularly, upon high-temperature operation, S becomes large, making this problem further serious. In the downsizing age of future computers and so on, when reduction of power is important, the increase of the subthreshold current becomes a substantial problem.

This problem will be further considered taking a memory, which is a typical semiconductor integrated circuit, as an example. The memory generally includes, as shown in FIG. 23, a memory array MA, an X decoder (XDEC) and word driver (WD) for selecting and driving a row line (word line W) for the selection of a memory cell MC within the memory array MA, a sense amplifier (SA) for amplifying the signal on a column line (data line D), a sense amplifier driving circuit (SAD) for driving the sense amplifier, a Y decoder (YDEC) for selecting a column line, and a peripheral circuit (PR) for controlling these circuits. The main parts of these circuits are designed based on the CMOS inverter logic circuit mentioned above.

When the threshold voltage V_(T) of transistors (hereinafter, for simplicity the absolute values of the threshold voltages of the p-channel and n-channel MOS transistors are assumed to be equal to V_(T)) is low, a subthreshold current, that is a current flowing in the source-drain path of the MOS transistors of which the V_(GS), is substantially 0.

Therefore, the sum of the subthreshold currents becomes particularly great in the circuits having a large number of MOS transistors, such as decoders, drivers or the peripheral circuit section.

For example, in the decoders or drivers, a small number of particular circuits are selected from a large number of circuits of the same type by the address signal, and driven. FIG. 24 shows an example of the conventional word driver for DRAM.

If the threshold value V_(T) of the MOS transistors of all CMOS drivers #1-#r is large enough, the subthreshold current, that is a current flowing in the source-drain paths of the MOS transistors of substantially zero V_(GS), is substantially zero in each of a large number of nonselected circuits. In general, the number of the decoder and driver is increased with the increase of the storage capacity of the memory. However, even though the storage capacity is increased, the total current is not increased unless the subthreshold current flows in the circuits that are not selected in the decoders or drivers.

If the threshold voltage V_(T) is decreased as mentioned above, however, the subthreshold current increases in proportion to the number of nonselected circuits.

In the prior art, when the chip is in the standby mode (nonselected state), almost all the circuits within the chip are turned off so that the power dissipation can be reduced as much as possible. However, it is not possible any more to reduce the power current dissipation even in the standby mode because the subthreshold current flows when the MOS transistors are highly scalled down.

When V_(T) is small, the subthreshold current that is a current flowing in the source-drain paths of the MOS transistors with V_(GS) being substantially zero, causes a trouble not only in the standby mode but also in the operating mode. Generally the current I_(ACT) flowing when the chip is in the active mode and the current I_(STB) flowing when the chip is in the standby mode are respectively expressed by

    I.sub.ACT ≈I.sub.0P +I.sub.DC,

and

    I.sub.STB ≈I.sub.DC,

where I_(0P) is the charging and discharging current to and from the load capacitance of the circuits within the chip, and given by

    I.sub.0P =C.sub.T0T ·V.sub.cc ·f

in which V_(cc) is the operating voltage of the chip, C_(T0T) is the total load capacitance of the circuits within the chip, and f is the operating frequency. In addition, I_(DC) is the subthreshold current given above. The subthreshold current is exponentially increased with the decrease of V_(T) as indicated by the equation (2).

So far, since V_(cc) is large and V_(T) is also large enough, the condition of

    I.sub.0P >I.sub.DC

can be satisfied. Therefore, the following equations can be given:

    I.sub.ACT ≈I.sub.0P,

    I.sub.STB ≈I.sub.DC

In this case, I_(DC) is substantially zero. Thus, for I_(ACT), only the increase of I_(0P) has been considered to cause a problem.

However, since I_(DC) is increased with the decrease of V_(cc) and V_(T), finally the following condition is satisfied:

    I.sub.0P ≦I.sub.DC

In addition, it is found that if V_(cc) and V_(T) are decreased, the following condition is given:

    I.sub.0P <I.sub.DC

In this case, the expressions of

    I.sub.ACT ≈I.sub.DC,

    I.sub.STB ≈I.sub.DC

can be given. Therefore, the increase of the subthreshold current I_(DC) also becomes a problem to the current I_(ACT) which flows when the chip is operating.

FIG. 25 shows an example of the results predicted for the current dissipation in the DRAM. This prediction is made at a junction temperature of 75° C. with typical conditions. From FIG. 25, it will be seen that the I_(DC) of the 4-G bit DRAM exceeds I_(0P) when its operating voltage is assumed to be 1.2 V.

If we considers the worst conditions, the subthreshold current I_(DC) causes a problem even when the effective channel length, gate oxide film thickness and operating voltage are respectively about 0.25 μm, 6 nm and 2.5 V. Here, the values corresponding to a 256-M bit DRAM are used. In the prior art, when the operating voltage is 3.3 V, the constant current threshold voltage defined as the gate-source voltage of the transistor of which the ratio of the effective channel width to effective channel length is 30 and in which the drain current is 10 nA is one tenth of the operating voltage, or 0.33 V at a substrate-source voltage of 0 volt and a junction temperature of 25° C. with typical conditions. At this time, the extrapolated threshold voltage defined as the gate-source voltage when the drain current characteristic of a saturated region is extrapolated for zero current is about 0.2 V higher than the constant current threshold voltage, or about 0.53 V. When the operating voltage is reduced to 2.5 V, the extrapolated threshold voltage is reduced to about 0.4 V in proportion to the operating voltage in order to assure the effective gate voltage. Since the difference between the extrapolated threshold voltage and the constant current threshold voltage is substantially constant, the constant current threshold voltage is about 0.2 V. In addition, the temperature dependency of the threshold voltage must be considered. In general, when the operation of the chip at room temperature is assured, it must be guaranteed at a normal ambient temperature T_(a) of 0° C. through 70° C. Moreover, the junction temperature T_(j) within the chip can be found from the equation of

    T.sub.j =T.sub.a +θ.sub.ja ·P.sub.d

where P_(d) is the dissipation power, and θ_(ja) is the thermal conductivity of the chip, and thus a higher temperature must be considered. If the source voltage and the active current I_(ACT) are 2.5 V and 50 mA, respectively, and if T_(a) is 75° C. including a margin when θ_(ja) is 200° C./W, the junction temperature T_(j) is 100° C. The constant current threshold voltage at this value of T_(j) is about 0.1 V when the temperature dependency of the threshold voltage is assumed to be -1.6 mV/°C. In addition, if we consider the threshold voltage variation due to the process dispersion as 0.1 V, the constant current threshold voltage with 10 nA at the worst condition is about 0.0 V. In this case, if the effective gate length is 0.25 μm, the gate width which is used when defining the constant current threshold voltage is about 7.5 μm. If the total value of gate widths of the MOS transistors within the chip which contributes to I_(DC) is about 4 m, the subthreshold current I_(DC) is found to be 5 mA from the equation (2) when the subthreshold swing S is 100 mV/dec. This value of 5 mA corresponds to one tenth of I_(ACT) as assumed above, and is thus too large to be neglected. Therefore, when the operating voltage is about 2.5 V or below, the subthreshold current in the CMOS logic circuit causes a problem.

We now consider the dissipation power of a CMOS LSI which is demanded for its application. The dissipation power in the LSI used in portable apparatus should be treated as the average dissipation power in the period of time in which it is energized and thus it includes both the standby current and the active current. Particularly in the battery-operated apparatus, both the currents are important because the idle time is determined by the average dissipation power. There are a number of LSIs which keep operating almost within the period of time in which they are energized, such as IC processors, memories and ASICs for high-speed operation. In these LSIs, only the active current is important, and thus the condition of I_(ACT) ≈I_(STB) may be allowed. In either case, the reduction of I_(ACt) is an important subject in all LSIs. In the prior art, since I_(DC) is dominant for I_(ACT) in the near future as described above, it becomes important to reduce the leakage (penetrating) current flowing through the CMOS LSI in the active mode.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a semiconductor integrated circuit capable of reducing the dissipation power of the semiconductor integrated circuit including circuits which have enhancement type MOS transistors which operate at an operating voltage of 2.5 V or below and which cause a significant current in the source-drain path when V_(GS) is substantially zero.

It is another object of the invention to reduce the subthreshold current of the MOS transistors included in the word driver, decoder, sense amplifier driving circuit and so on of a memory or a semiconductor integrated circuit in which the memory is incorporated.

In order to achieve the above objects, when some circuits of the semiconductor integrated circuit are operated to change their outputs, the subthreshold current of the MOS transistors in the other circuits which are not changed in their outputs is reduced so that the dissipation power can be decreased.

More specifically, according to this invention, there is provided a semiconductor integrated circuit chip operating at an operating voltage of 2.5 V or below, comprising:

a first terminal at which a first operating potential is applied;

a second terminal at which a second operating potential is applied;

a first circuit block coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal; and

a second circuit block coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal;

wherein the first circuit block permits an active current to flow between the first terminal and the output terminal when the first circuit block responds to an input signal to its input terminal to produce an output signal at its output terminal,

wherein the second circuit block includes a plurality of subcircuit blocks each of which includes a MOS transistor having its source connected to a first node and its gate connected to the input terminal and a load having one end connected to the drain of the MOS transistor and the other end connected to a second node,

wherein the MOS transistor of each of the plurality of subcircuit blocks causes a subthreshold current in its source-drain path when the gate-source voltage is substantially 0,

wherein the plurality of first nodes of the plurality of subcircuit blocks are coupled through a plurality of switching elements to the first terminal, and the plurality of second nodes of the plurality of subcircuit blocks are coupled to the second terminal,

wherein constants of said plurality of switching elements are set so that the leak currents of the plurality of switching elements in their off-state are smaller than the subthreshold current of the MOS transistor of the corresponding one of said plurality of subcircuit blocks, and

wherein the current dissipation in each of the plurality of subcircuit blocks of the second circuit block is limited to a leak current value of the corresponding one of the plurality of switching elements by turning off the plurality of switching elements so that the sum of the current dissipations in the plurality of subcircuit blocks is made smaller than the active current of the first circuit block.

Therefore, even when the semiconductor integrated circuit chip is active, the first circuit block operates within the chip, while the subthreshold current in the non-active second circuit block can be reduced.

In addition, according to this invention, there is provided a semiconductor integrated circuit chip operating at an operating voltage of 2.5 V or below, comprising:

a first terminal at which a first operating potential is applied;

a second terminal at which a second operating potential is applied;

a first circuit block coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal; and

a second circuit block coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal;

wherein the first circuit block permits an active current to flow between the first terminal and the output terminal when the first circuit responds to an input signal to its input terminal to produce an output signal at its output terminal,

wherein the second circuit block includes a plurality of subcircuit blocks each of which includes a MOS transistor having its source connected to a first node and its gate connected to the input terminal and a load having one end connected to the drain of the MOS transistor and the other end connected to a second node,

wherein the MOS transistor of each of the plurality of subcircuit blocks causes a subthreshold current to flow in its source-drain path when the gate-source voltage is substantially 0,

wherein the plurality of first anodes of the plurality of subcircuit blocks are coupled through a plurality of switching elements to the first terminal, and the plurality of second nodes of the plurality of subcircuit blocks are coupled to the second terminal,

wherein constants of said plurality of switching elements are set so that the leak currents of said plurality of switching elements in their off-state are smaller than the subthreshold current of the MOS transistor of the corresponding one of said plurality of subcircuit blocks, and

wherein the current dissipation in each of the plurality of subcircuit blocks of the second circuit block is limited to a leak current value of the corresponding one of the plurality of switching elements by turning off the plurality of switching elements so that the sum of the current dissipations in the plurality of subcircuit blocks is made smaller than the active current of the first circuit block,

wherein each of the plurality of subcircuit blocks of the second circuit block causes an active current to flow between the first terminal and the output terminal of each of the subcircuit blocks when each subcircuit responds to an input signal to its input terminal to produce an output signal at its output,

wherein the first circuit block includes a plurality of subcircuit blocks, each of which includes a MOS transistor having its source connected to the first anode and its gate connected to the input terminal, and a load having its one end connected to the drain of the MOS transistor and the other end connected to the second anode,

wherein the MOS transistor of each of the plurality of subcircuit blocks of the first circuit block causes the subthreshold current to flow in its source-drain path when the gate-source voltage is substantially 0,

wherein the plurality of first anodes of the plurality of subcircuit blocks of the first circuit block are coupled through the plurality of switching elements to the first terminal, and the plurality of second anodes of the plurality of subcircuit blocks of the first circuit block are coupled to the second terminal,

wherein the constants of the plurality of switching elements of the first circuit block are fixed so that the leak currents of the plurality of switching elements of the first circuit block in their off-state are smaller than the threshold current of the MOS transistor of the corresponding one of the plurality of subcircuit blocks of the first circuit block, and

wherein the plurality of subcircuit blocks of the second circuit block are made active by turning on the plurality of switching elements of the second circuit block, and the current dissipation in each of the plurality of subcircuit blocks of the first circuit block is limited to a leak current value of the corresponding one of the plurality of switching elements by turning off the plurality of switching elements of the first circuit block so that the sum of the current dissipations in the plurality of subcircuit blocks is made smaller than that of the active currents of the second circuit block.

Therefore, when the semiconductor integrated circuit chip is active, the first circuit block within the chip is operated, while the subthreshold current in the second non-active circuit block can be reduced. In addition, while the second circuit block is operated within the chip, the subthreshold current in the first non-active circuit block can be reduced.

Moreover, according to this invention, there is provided a semiconductor integrated circuit chip comprising:

a plurality of first circuit blocks;

a plurality of first switching elements;

a first operation potential power line coupled common to the plurality of first switching elements; and

a second switching element coupled between the first operation potential power line and a first operation potential point,

wherein each of a plurality of first nodes of the plurality of first circuit block is coupled to the first operation potential power line through the corresponding one of the plurality of first switching elements,

wherein a plurality of second nodes of the plurality of first circuit blocks are coupled to a second operation potential power line,

wherein each of the plurality of first circuit blocks includes a MOS transistor having its source connected to the corresponding one of the first nodes and its gate connected to an input terminal, and a load having its one end connected to an drain of the MOS transistor and the other end connected to the corresponding one of the second nodes,

wherein the MOS transistor of each of the plurality of first circuit blocks causes a subthreshold current to flow in its source-drain path when the gate-source voltage is substantially 0,

wherein constants of the plurality of first switching elements are set so that the leak current of each of the plurality of first switching elements in its off-state is smaller than the subthreshold current of the MOS transistor of the corresponding one of the plurality of first circuit blocks,

wherein the current dissipation of each of the plurality of first circuit blocks is limited to a leak current value of a corresponding one of the plurality of first switching elements by turning off the plurality of first switching elements, and

wherein a constant of the second switching element is set so that the leak current of the second switching element in its off-state is smaller than the sum of the leak currents of the plurality of first switching elements, and thus the sum of current dissipations in the plurality of first circuit blocks is limited to the leak current value of the second switching element.

Therefore, the current dissipation of each of the plurality of first circuit blocks in the standby mode is limited to the subthreshold current of the first switching elements or below. In addition, the sum of the current dissipations in the plurality of first circuit blocks coupled to the first operation potential line in the standby mode is limited to the subthreshold current of the second switching element or below.

The total sum of the sum of the dissipation currents in the plurality of first circuit blocks and the sum of the dissipation currents in the plurality of second circuit blocks is limited to the subthreshold current of the fifth switching element or below.

The concept common to the semiconductor integrated circuit chips given in the summary of the invention is to have a plurality of circuit blocks and at least two circuit terminals through which a desired operating voltage is applied to these circuit blocks, and to have current control means provided for the subthreshold currents in the circuit blocks between each of the circuit blocks and at least one of the circuit terminals, so that the leakage current in a certain one of the circuit blocks is controlled by the current control means during a period including part of the time in which at least another one of the circuit blocks logically operates. Thus, when the semiconductor integrated circuit chip itself is in the operating state, during the period in which a certain one of the circuit blocks is operated, the leakage current in another non-operated one of the circuit blocks can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to reduce the total leakage current of the semiconductor integrated circuit chip in the active mode.

Therefore, even if the threshold voltage of the MOS transistor is decreased as it is scaled down, the leakage current flowing in the nonselected circuit can be minimized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an arrangement for limiting the time in which the subthreshold current flows.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart for controlling the arrangement shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a one-dimensional arrangement of blocks.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a two-dimensional arrangement of blocks.

FIG. 5A shows an embodiment of a one-dimensional arrangement of word driver blocks.

FIG. 5B is a timing chart for the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing the operating point of the p-channel MOS transistor of the word driver in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5A.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the block-number dependency of the leakage current for one-dimensional selection.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a one-dimensional arrangement of sense amplifier driving circuit blocks.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the arrangement of a main part of the memory array.

FIG. 10 shows the effect of the invention.

FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of a one-dimensional arrangement of decoder blocks.

FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of a one-dimensional arrangement of word driver blocks.

FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of a one-dimensional arrangement of n-channel MOS driver blocks.

FIG. 14 shows an embodiment of a two-dimensional arrangement of a typical selection system.

FIG. 15 is a timing chart for controlling the embodiment shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 16A shows an embodiment of a two-dimensional arrangement of word driver blocks.

FIG. 16B is a timing chart for the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 17 is a graph showing the operating point of the p-channel MOS transistor of the word driver in the embodiment shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18A is a graph showing the block-number dependency of the leakage current for two-dimensional selection with the sector number being used as a parameter.

FIG. 18B is a graph showing the block-number dependency of the leakage current for two-dimensional selection with the circuit number within a block being used as a parameter.

FIG. 19 shows an arrangement of the division of 512 word drivers into four blocks.

FIG. 20 shows an embodiment of a two-dimensional arrangement of decoder blocks.

FIG. 21 shows an embodiment of the application to the hierarchical type word line arrangement.

FIG. 22A is a circuit diagram of the conventional CMOS inverter.

FIG. 22B is a graph showing the subthreshold characteristic of the transistor.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram of a memory.

FIG. 24 shows a conventional method of supplying current to word drivers.

FIG. 25 is a graph showing the prediction of current dissipation in DRAM by the prior art.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

First, a description will be made of an application of the invention to a word driver (WD shown in FIG. 23) of DRAM. We consider the state after a word line has been selected and supplied with a necessary word voltage V_(CH). In the conventional arrangement shown in FIG. 24, if V_(T) is only high enough, almost no subthreshold current flows in the source-drain paths of the MOS transistors of all CMOS drivers of which the gate-source voltages are substantially zero. However, when V_(T) is reduced to about 0.4 V or below, the subthreshold current flows in the word drivers. As, the capacity becomes large and the word driver number (r) increases, the intensity of this current becomes significant. The total subthreshold current I_(A) can be expressed as ##EQU4## where V_(T) is the threshold voltage defined by the current value I₀, and S is the subthreshold swing as shown in FIG. 22B. The word driver source V_(CH) is normally produced by boosting the external source voltage within the chip, and thus its current driving ability is limited. Therefore, the increase of I_(A) cannot be treated.

There are three methods for the counter-measure: (1) a necessary voltage is applied to the power line to the word driver for a desired period of time, (2) the word driver group is divided into a large number of blocks each of which is formed of a plurality of drivers, and a necessary voltage is applied only to a particular block which is desired to select, and (3) both methods given above are combined.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the method in which a necessary voltage is applied to the power line to a word driver for a desired period of time, thereby limiting the time in which the subthreshold current flows. This method has the feature that a desired word voltage is applied to a common power line of a block after the logical input to the driver has been fixed. The operation of the PMOS transistor constituting the word driver will be mentioned with reference to the timing chart of FIG. 2. In the known memory cells for DRAM which are formed of NMOS transistors and capacitors, the voltage of all nonselected word lines must be V_(ss) (0 V), and hence the PMOS transistors within all word drivers including word drivers to be selected have the gate voltage V_(CH). Then, when selecting operation begins, only the gate N_(x1) of the PMOS transistor of the selected driver #1 becomes 0 V. At this time, the other drivers #2 through #r remain at V_(CH). Thus, the gate voltage is fixed for the PMOS transistors of all the word drivers. Before the gate voltage of the PMOS transistors is fixed, the voltage on the common power line P_(B) which is connected with the sources of the PMOS transistors is set at a certain lower voltage than V_(CH), or in an extreme case, at 0 V in order that the subthreshold current in the PMOS transistors can be neglected. Here, the certain voltage given above is so selected as to be about V_(CH) -(0.4 V-V_(T)) as compared with V_(T) for the PMOS transistor. This is because the effective gate voltage resulting from the subtraction of V_(T) from the gate-source voltage is, as describe above, necessary to be about 0.4 V in order to make the subthreshold current of the PMOS transistor negligibly small. For example, in a 16 -gigabit DRAM, since V_(CH) =1.75 V and V_(T) =-0.04 V as described above, here the certain voltage is about 1.31 V. When the common power line P_(B) is increased to V_(CH) after the gate voltage is fixed, the voltage V_(CH) is applied from the corresponding PMOS transistor to the selected word line. When the gate voltages of the PMOS transistors in all the word drivers are set to V_(CH) after the voltage application for a desired period of time, the selected word line discharges to 0 V through the corresponding PMOS transistor. Then, the voltage on the common power line P_(B) is again reduced to the certain voltage or below as mentioned above. In the period of time in which the common driving line is separated from V_(CH) by this driving method, there is no subthreshold current. However, during the time in which the voltage V_(CH) is applied to the common driving line, the subthreshold current still flows in the PMOS transistors of the nonselected word drivers. When any word driver is operated, V_(CH) must be applied to the common driving line, and hence the subthreshold current cannot be reduced.

Even when the logic input to the driver is fixed after a necessary word voltage is applied to the common power line, a correct voltage can be produced on the word line. In this case, during the period of time in which the logic input to the driver is fixed after the word voltage is applied to the power line, the subthreshold current wastefully flows in all the word drivers. On the other hand, in the method of applying a word voltage to the common power line after the logic input is fixed, the waste current during this period can be reduced. However, the operation speed is lowered. Since the parasitic capacitance of the common power line is large, the rise time on this line becomes long and thus the access time increases the more.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show conceptional embodiments for solving the above problems. These embodiments have the feature that the word driver group is divided into a large number of blocks each of which is formed of a plurality of drivers, and that the subthreshold current is caused to flow only in a selected block. In other words, the subthreshold current upon operation can be reduced in inverse proportion to the block number. FIG. 3 shows a one-dimensional arrangement of m blocks of n word drivers each (where m·n=r). In this embodiment, the subthreshold current can be reduced by m-fold that in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 shows a two-dimensional arrangement (matrix) of k blocks (k is not Boltzmann constant) of l word drivers each in the row direction and j blocks of l word drivers each in the column direction (where j·k·l=r). In this arrangement, the subthreshold current can be reduced by 1/(j·k) that in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. Some embodiments concerning the one-dimensional arrangement and two-dimensional arrangement will be described in detail.

A specific embodiment of the one-dimensional arrangement will be first described in detail. FIG. 5A shows an embodiment of the one-dimensional arrangement of word driver blocks, and FIG. 5B is a timing chart for the operation of this embodiment. In this embodiment, a second power line is provided common to the power lines to the blocks so as to be hierarchical. This hierarchical type power line system has the following two features. (1) Hierarchical type power lines to driver blocks: m blocks of n word drivers #1 through #n each are provided, power lines P₁ through P_(m) to the blocks are respectively connected through block selection transistors Q₁ through Q_(m) to a common power line P, and the line P is connected to a power line of word voltage V_(CH) through a transistor Q for selecting one of the operating mode and the standby mode. (2) Setting of hierarchical gate width: the gate width (a·W) of the block selection transistors Q₁ through Q_(m) is previously selected to be much smaller than the sum (n·W) of gate widths of the word driver transistors within one block (a<n), and the gate width (b·W) of the transistor Q is previously selected to be much smaller than the sum (m·a·W) of the gate widths of the selected transistors of all blocks (b<m·a).

Upon operation, the transistors Q and Q1 are turned on, permitting the voltage V_(CH) to be applied to the power line P1 for the block B1 including the selected word driver #1. Here, the voltages V_(T) of all the transistors are assumed to be equal and a low value. According to this arrangement, the subthreshold current of each of the nonselected blocks B₂ through B_(m) is smaller than that of the corresponding block selection transistor Q₂ through Q_(m) because the subthreshold current is proportional to the gate width of the transistor. Even if a current of n·i tends to flow, all the subthreshold currents are limited by the subthreshold current (a·i) of the block selection transistor. At that time, the voltages on the power lines P₂ through P_(m) to the nonselected blocks still remain reduced by Δ V substantially as in the standby mode because the subthreshold currents of the transistors Q₂ through Q_(m) for charging the lines P₂ through P_(m) are relatively small. Therefore, the total subthreshold current I_(A) is calculated from Table 1 to be substantially (n+m·a)i when m>1. If a is selected to be about 4, it is possible to reduce the effect on the operating speed of the series transistors Q, Q₁ and the chip area.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Operating       Standby                                                        current         current  Necessary Charge                                      (I.sub.A)       (I.sub.S)                                                                               t.sub.1   t.sub.2                                     ______________________________________                                         Prior Art                                                                              m · n · i                                                                m · n · i                                                             0       0                                         This    n · i +                                                                           b · i                                                                          C · ΔV'                                                                 C.sub.1 · ΔV               invention                                                                              (m - 1) · a · i                                      ______________________________________                                    

If the word driver number (m·n) is constant, the subthreshold current n·i of the selected block is inversely proportional to the total subthreshold current m·a·i of the nonselected blocks. Thus, in order to reduce I_(A), it is desired that the subthreshold current n·i of the selected block be substantially equal to the total subthreshold current m·a·i of the nonselected blocks, or n≈m·a. If this condition is not satisfied, I_(A) will be increased by the amount corresponding to the deviation from the condition. The number, m of blocks to be fixed depends on the decoder for the block selection signal and the layout area. It is desirable to make I_(A) less than about five times the minimum value. To meet this requirement, a larger one of the subthreshold current of the selected block and the total subthreshold current of the nonselected blocks should be within 10 times the value which minimizes I_(A). In other words, it is necessary that the ratio between the subthreshold current of the selected block and the total subthreshold current of the nonselected blocks be within the range from 0.01 to 100.

FIG. 7 shows the active-mode subthreshold current I_(A) with respect to the block number when the word driver number (m·n) is 128K. In this graph, the interconnection resistance and interconnection capacitance are neglected. The calculated curve and the simulated curve exhibit the same tendency and have the minimum value when m and n are selected to satisfy n≈m·a. Taking a=b=4 as an example, the leakage current becomes the minimum, or less than 1/85 the value in the prior art when the block number m is selected to be 128 or 256. The tendency that the simulated curve takes lower values than the calculated value will be probably caused by the effect of the on-resistance of the PMOS transistor used as a switch.

In the standby mode, all the transistors Q, Q₁ through Q_(m) are almost turned off. The total subthreshold current I_(s), becomes equal to the subthreshold current of the transistor Q, and can be reduced by a/m·n as compared with the prior art. The voltage on the power line to the blocks is reduced from V_(CH) by Δ V which is determined by the ratio between m·n·W and b·W and the subthreshold swing. At this time, the operating point of the p-channel MOS transistor of the word driver is as shown in FIG. 6.

When the transistor Q is not used, or when the switch shown in FIG. 3 is replaced by the transistor of gate width a·W, the total subthreshold current m·a·i flows in m PMOS transistors of gate width a·W in the standby mode. Since the gate width ratio a cannot be reduced even under the divided blocks because of the driving ability of the selecting circuit in the active state, the standby current is increased with the increase of the block number m. When the word driver number (m·n) is constant, n cannot be decreased unless m is increased, and hence the n·i part of the subthreshold current in the operating mode cannot be decreased. Therefore, the subthreshold currents in both the standby mode and the operating mode cannot be simultaneously minimized.

In this embodiment, this problem is solved by inserting the transistor Q and setting the gate width at b<m·a so as to make a double-stage current limiting function. In other words, a transistor of gate width b·W is provided common to m transistors of gate width a·W so that the current limiting function has two stages. Thus, the subthreshold current in the operating mode remains n·i+(m-1)·a·i, while the subthreshold current in the standby mode can be reduced to b·i. Since the subthreshold current in the standby mode is not dependent on m and n, m and n can be combined to minimize the subthreshold current in the operation mode, or n≈m·a can be established.

The operation will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG. 5B. In the standby mode (Φ, Φ₁ through Φ_(m) : V_(CH)), the transistors Q and Q₁ through Q_(m) are almost turned off. Therefore, the power line P is at a lower voltage V_(CH) -ΔV' than V_(CH), and the power lines P₁ through P_(m) are at a further lower voltage V_(CH) -ΔV than that. All the word lines are fixed at V_(ss) independently of the voltage of the power lines P₁ through P_(m). When the external clock signal /RAS (where "/" indicates a complementary signal) is turned on, the transistor Q is turned on at Φ, permitting the parasitic capacitance C of the line P to be charged for time t₁ to reach V_(CH). Then, the transistor Q₁ is turned on at Φ₁, permitting the parasitic capacitance C₁ of the line P₁ to be charged for time t₂ to reach V_(CH). At this time, the transistors Q₂ through Q_(m) are still substantially in the off-state. Then, the word driver #1 is selected by the X decoder output signal X₁, and drives the word line. When the clock signal /RAS is turned off, the transistors Q and Q₁ are turned off. After lapse of a long time, the power lines P and P₁ are respectively reduced to V_(CH) -ΔV' and V_(CH) -ΔV by the mechanism mentioned above. Here, the power lines (P, P₁) can be charged to V_(CH) without reducing the access time because ΔV' is as small as several hundred m V even if the parasitic capacitance C is large and because the charging time t₁ for the line P can be maintained to be long enough immediately after the clock signal /RAS is turned on. In addition, because of the block arrangement, the parasitic capacitance C₁ is relatively small and thus the charging time t₂ for the line P₁ can be reduced.

If the hierarchical type power lines are provided for the decoders, the subthreshold current can be greatly reduced.

FIG. 8 shows a hierarchical power line scheme applied to a sense amplifier driving circuit (SAD in FIG. 23), and FIG. 9 shows a main part of a memory array of memory cells each of which is formed of a single transistor and a single capacitor. Since the well-known V_(cc) /2 precharge scheme is used, this sense amplifier driving circuit operates based on the central value, Vcc/2. Thus, it has the feature that the hierarchical type power lines are used for both V_(cc) and V_(ss). Here, it is assumed that the conductance of the PMOS transistor Q_(P) is equal to that of the NMOS transistor Q_(N). The CMOS sense amplifier (SA) group within the sub-array is selectively driven by the corresponding sense amplifier driving circuit. At this time, the current I_(A) ' flowing through the power lines V_(cc), V_(ss) is governed by the subthreshold currents of a large number of nonselected driving circuits. Even if the gates of the transistors Q_(P), Q_(N) shown in FIG. 8 are respectively applied with V_(cc) and 0 not to be selected, the sense amplifier driving lines CP, CN are at V_(cc) /2, and thus the subthreshold current flows from P'₁ to P"₁. In order to prevent this, it is absolutely necessary to apply the hierarchical power-line scheme to both sides. If the hierarchical type power lines are applied to only V_(cc), the subthreshold current of the transistor Q_(N) flows from V_(cc) /2 to P"₁, thus reducing the level of V_(cc) /2 because the current driving ability of the V_(cc) /2 supply circuit built in the chip is small.

FIG. 10 shows the active current reducing effect of the invention applied to the word drivers, decoders and sense amplifier driving circuit with the subthreshold current being assumed not to flow in the peripheral circuit (PR in FIG. 23) portion. A 16 gigabit DRAM is given as an example. The parameters used are as follows. The threshold voltage V_(T) which is defined by a voltage at which a current of 10 nA flows in a gate width 5 μm is -0.12 V, the subthreshold swing S is 97 mV/dec, the junction temperature T is 75° C., the effective gate length L_(eff) is 0.15 μm, and the gate oxide film thickness T_(0X) is 4 nm. In addition, the word voltage V_(CH) is 1.75 V, the source voltage V_(cc) is 1 V, the cycling time is 180 ns, the refresh cycle number is 128 k, the chip size is 23 mm×45 mm, and the total capacitance of data lines which charge and discharge in one cycle is 17 nF. According to this invention, the active current can be reduced from about 1.05 A to about 1/10 that value in the prior art, or to 109 mA. This is because the subthreshold current can be greatly reduced from about 0.97 A to about 1/30 that value in the prior art, or to 34 mA.

The embodiments of the invention have been described in which the word drivers and sense amplifier driving circuit are provided in the one-dimensional arrangement of blocks. This invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but may take various modifications as given below.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the hierarchical type power-line scheme applied to the decoder. This arrangement shown in FIG. 1 has AND circuits each of which is formed of two stages, or a NAND circuit and an inverter of a CMOS logic circuit. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the feature is that the hierarchical power lines are provided on both sides of V_(cc) and V_(ss), though the operating point is not V_(cc) /2 unlike the sense amplifier driving circuit. In the standby mode, all the NAND circuits produce V_(cc), and in the operating mode, a small number of ones of the NAND circuits produce 0 V. Since the subthreshold current is determined by the n-channel MOS transistor on V_(ss), side, the hierarchical power lines are on the V_(ss) side. On the contrary, all the inverters produce 0 V in the standby mode, and a small number of ones of the inverters produce V_(cc) in the operating mode. Since the subthreshold current is determined by the p-channel MOS transistor, the hierarchical power lines are used on the V_(cc) side.

This invention can be applied to the circuit group which produces the same voltage in the standby mode, and a small number of circuits of which operate in the operating mode. At this time, all the circuits are of the same transistor size, but may be different in their construction.

FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of the application of the invention to the word driver. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, 16 ones of 2M word drivers are simultaneously operated. This embodiment is different from the embodiment shown in FIG. 5A in that a plurality of power lines are used. As illustrated in FIG. 12, each block is formed of 512 word drivers, and 8 sectors S₁ through S₈ are provided each of which is formed of 512 blocks (B₁,1 through B₁,256, B₂,1 through B₂,256). Two blocks (for example, B₁,1 and B₂,1) of each sector share one power line (for example, P₁). The first 128 ones of the power lines P₁ through P₂₅₆ are connected through block selection transistors Q₁ through Q₁₂₈ to a power line P_(L), and the other 128 ones are connected through block selection transistors Q₁₂₉ through Q₂₅₆ to a power line P_(R). These power lines P.sub. L and P_(R) are common to the 8 sectors. The power lines P_(L) and P_(R) are further connected through transistors Q_(L) and Q_(R) to the power line V_(CH). The gate width of the transistors Q₁ through Q₂₅₆ is selected to be much smaller than the total gate width of the transistors of the word drivers of two blocks, or 1×10³ word drivers. In addition, the gate width of transistors Q_(L), Q_(R) is selected to be much smaller than the total gate width of the block selection transistors connected to each of the power lines P_(L), P_(R), or 8×128 block selection transistors. In the operating mode, the eight sectors make the same operation. For example, the transistors Q_(L), Q_(R) and the transistor Q₁ within each sector are turned on and V_(CH) is applied to the two blocks (B₁,1 and B₂,1) including the selected word driver #1. The subthreshold current is the same as when m and n are respectively selected to be 256 and 4×10³ in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. Thus, when a plurality of circuits are simultaneously operated, a plurality of blocks are selected at a time. If the transistors as switches are divided into a plurality of groups and connected, the power lines can be shortened so that the interconnection resistance can be reduced. Thus, the power line P₁ to the selected block can be charged in a short time.

FIG. 13 shows an example of the application of the invention to n-channel MOS drivers. This embodiment has the feature that the hierarchical type power lines are connected to the drains of the transistors. Each driver is a push-pull circuit configuration of two n-channel MOS transistors. The nonselected drivers produce 0 V, and the selected driver produces V_(cc) -V_(T). The hierarchical type power lines are provided on the drain, or V_(cc) side of the transistors. Thus, the subthreshold current can be reduced without changing the outputs of the nonselected drivers as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. In FIG. 13, if the block selection transistors Q₂ through Q_(m) are in the off state, the voltages on the power lines P₂ through P_(m) are greatly reduced so that no current flows in the word driver transistors even though the subthreshold current is not so affected by the drain voltage. Thus, this invention can be applied to the logic circuit other than the CMOS one.

In either of the above embodiments, it is desired that the substrate of the transistors which has not been mentioned be connected to the power supply. In this case, the amount of charge necessary for charging the power lines becomes smaller and the charging time is shorter, than when the substrate is connected to the power lines which are connected to the drains. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, all the substrate of the p-channel MOS transistors is connected to V_(CH), so that when the voltage V_(CH) of the power lines of the nonselected blocks is reduced by ΔV as described above, the threshold voltage of the p-channel MOS transistors within the nonselected blocks is increased by the body effect. The source voltage becomes lower than the gate voltage, and in addition since the threshold voltage is increased, the same current reducing effect can be achieved by a small ΔV as compared with the case in which the substrate is at the same voltage as the drain.

In the above embodiments, the threshold voltages of the transistors are all equal. If the threshold voltage of the transistors used as switches is made higher than the other transistors, the subthreshold current can be further reduced. If the threshold voltage of the transistors Q and Q₁ through Q_(m) shown in FIG. 5 is made higher than that of the transistors within the word drivers and if a and b are selected to be large, the operating speed can be prevented from being reduced by the on-resistance of the switches, and the subthreshold current can be further reduced. The subthreshold current is exponentially affected by the threshold voltage of the switches at the off-state, while the on-resistance is only linearly affected. Even if the gate capacitance is increased with the gate width, there is no problem in the operating speed provided that the charging time t₁, t₂ is assured in FIG. 7. In addition, as to the layout area, the number is relatively small and thus there is no problem. In some case, even if only the transistor Q has a high threshold voltage, the standby current can be effectively reduced.

As shown in the timing chart of FIG. 7, during the active period in which the clock signal /RAS is 0 V, the transistors Q and Q₁ are kept on with Φ and Φ₁ reduced. This is realized by controlling the Φ by a signal for specifying the operating mode at the active time and standby time which is produced by the clock signal /RAS and by controlling the Φ₁ by the combination of that signal and an address signal. In addition, by use of a signal for specifying the period from the trailing edge of the clock /RAS to the end of the word line driving, it is possible to make the Φ and Φ₁ V_(CH) and transistors Q and Q₁ off after the word line driving. Thus, the subthreshold current after the word line driving can be reduced to the same extent as the standby current I_(s) even at the active time. This effect is the greater, the longer the active period in which the clock signal /RAS is 0 V. In this case, for rewriting the memory cell, it is necessary to reduce the Φ and Φ₁ and turn on the transistors Q and Q₁ for a constant period from the leading edge of the clock signal /RAS. Even in the embodiment in which this invention is applied to the decoders shown in for example FIG. 11, the subthreshold current after fixing the output can be further reduced.

Some embodiments of this invention concerning the two-dimensional arrangement will be described in detail. FIG. 14 shows an embodiment of a typical selection system of the two-dimensional arrangement. FIG. 15 is a timing chart for the operation of this embodiment. A necessary word voltage V_(CH) is applied to a row line (P_(s1)) corresponding to, for example, a block B₁,1 which is desired to select, and 0 V is applied to the corresponding column (Φ_(B1)). The block selection p-channel MOS transistor Q₁,1 is turned on, and the power line P₁,1 belonging to B₁,1 is charged to V_(CH). Since the p-channel MOS transistor constituting the word driver belonging to B₁,1 already has a fixed gate voltage, V_(CH) is applied to the word line selected according to this. Of course, as described above, even if the gate voltage is fixed after the application of V_(CH) to P₁,1, the word line can be correctly driven. After the voltage is applied for a desired period of time, the power line P₁,1 is discharged to 0 V through the n-channel MOS transistor connected thereto. The power line belonging to the nonselected blocks remains 0 V. Here, for simplicity, we consider that the V_(T) of the block selection p-channel MOS transistor and power line discharging n-channel MOS transistor is selected to be high enough (about 0.4 V). Since the power line for the nonselected blocks is always 0 V, no subthreshold current flows in the word drivers of the nonselected blocks. Therefore, the total subthreshold current can be greatly reduced to only the subthreshold current of the selected block. In addition, since the power line is divided into power lines with a small-parasitic capacitance which are driven, higher speed operation than in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 can be realized.

FIG. 16A is another embodiment of the selection system of the two-dimensional arrangement, and FIG. 16B is a timing chart for the operation of this embodiment. In this embodiment, a plurality of the arrangement for the one-dimensional selection shown in FIG. 5A are provided, and transistors are further provided between the power supply and the power terminals. In this case, the transistor Q in FIG. 5 corresponds to the transistors Q_(s1) through Q_(sj) in FIG. 16A. In the same manner as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 14, only the block at an intersection is selected by a row power line (for example, P_(s1)) and a column control line (for example, Φ_(B1)). This embodiment is different from the embodiment shown in FIG. 14 in the point given below. In FIG. 14, when each block is not selected, the power line of each block is at 0 V, and even when the block selecting operation is started, all the power lines for the nonselected blocks are at 0 V. When either one of the blocks is selected, that power line must be charged from 0 V to V_(CH), and thus there is the drawback that the operation speed is low and that the transient current becomes large. In order to solve this problem, when a certain block is shifted from the nonselected state to the selected state, it is desired that the voltage change of that power line be suppressed to be as small as possible and that the subthreshold current of the other nonselected blocks is suppressed to be negligibly small. The embodiment shown in FIG. 16A is able to realize this operation, and has two features as follows. (1) The hierarchical type power lines to blocks of drivers each: j·k blocks of a single word driver each are provided in a matrix shape. These blocks are divided into j groups, or sectors of k blocks each. The power lines P_(B1) through P_(Bk) for the blocks of each sector are connected through block selection transistors Q_(B1) through Q_(Bk) to the power line of the sector (for example, P_(s1)). In addition, the power line P_(s1) through P_(sj) of each sector is connected through a sector selection transistor Q_(s1) through Q_(sj) to the power line P. Moreover, the power line P is connected through the transistor Q for selecting one of the operating mode and the standby mode to the power line of word voltage V_(CH). (2) The setting of hierarchical gate width: the gate width (d·W) of the block selecting transistor is selected to be much smaller than the total gate width (l·W) of the word driver transistor within the block (d<l). In addition, the gate width (e·W) of the sector selection transistor is selected to be much smaller than the total gate width (k·d·W) of the block selection transistor within the sector (e<k·d). Moreover, the gate width (f·W) of the transistor Q is selected to be much smaller than the total gate width (j·e·W) of all sector selection transistors (f<j·e).

Upon operation, the transistors Q, Q_(s1), Q_(B1) are turned on, permitting V_(CH) to be applied to the power lines P_(B1) and P_(S1) corresponding to the block B₁ including the selected word driver (#1) and the sector S₁ including B₁. Here, V_(T) of all transistors is assumed to be the same low value. Thus, the total subthreshold current of the nonselected sector (S₁ through S_(j)) equals to the subthreshold current of the corresponding single sector selection transistor (Q_(s2) through Q_(sj)). In addition, the subthreshold current of each of the nonselected blocks (B₂ through B_(k)) within the selected sector (S₁) equals to the subthreshold current of the corresponding single block selection transistor (Q_(B2) through Q_(Bk)). This is because the subthreshold current is proportional to the gate width of the transistor. Therefore, even though a current of l·i tends to flow in the nonselected blocks within, for example, the sector S₁, the total subthreshold current is limited by the subthreshold current (d·i) of the block selection transistor. As a result, the total subthreshold current I_(A) is substantially (1+k·d+j·e) i when k>1, j>1 as listed on Table 2. If d, e and f are selected to be about 4, the effect on the operation speed of the series transistor (Q, Q_(s1), Q_(B1)) and the chip area can be reduced.

When the word driver number (j·k·l) is constant, the product of the subthreshold current l·i of the selected block within the selected sector, the total subthreshold current k·d·i of the nonselected blocks within the selected sector and the total subthreshold current j·e·i of the nonselected sectors is constant. Therefore, in order to reduce I_(A), it is necessary that the subthreshold current l·i of the selected block within the selected sector, the total subthreshold current k·d·i of the nonselected blocks within the selected sector and the total subthreshold current j·e·i of the nonselected sectors be set at substantially the same value, or l≈k·d≈j·e. The total subthreshold current I_(A) is increased with the increase of the deviation from this condition. The setting of the sector number j and block number k depends on the decoders within the selected circuit and the layout area. The total subthreshold current I_(A) is desired to be set at about five times or below as large as the minimum value. To this end, the largest one of the subthreshold current of the selected block within the selected sector, the total subthreshold current of the nonselected blocks within the selected sector and the total subthreshold current of the nonselected sectors should be selected to be within 15 times the value at which the total subthreshold current I_(A) is the minimum. Thus, the ratio of the largest one to the smallest one of the three subthreshold currents, or the subthreshold current of the selected block within the selected sector, the total subthreshold current of the nonselected blocks within the selected sector and the total subthreshold current of the nonselected sectors should be less than about 60 (√15÷(15)).

FIGS. 18A and 18B show graphs of the dependency of the operating subthreshold current I_(A) on the sector number and block number when the word driver number (m·n) is 32×10⁶. In FIG. 18A, the block number k and word driver number l are changed for a particular sector number j. In FIG. 18B, the sector number j and block number k are changed for the word driver number l within a particular block. In addition, in FIG. 18A, the one-dimensional selection shown in FIG. 5A is also shown for reference. The coefficients d, e and f of the gate width are selected to be 8, and the interconnection resistance and interconnection capacitance are neglected. When j=256, K=128 and l=1K so that l≈k·d≈j·e, the minimum can be obtained. At this time, it can be reduced to 1/8K the value in the prior art, or 1/8 the minimum value in the one-dimensional selection.

In the standby mode, all the transistors Q, Q₁ through Q_(k) are made almost in the off-state. The total subthreshold current I_(s) equals to the subthreshold current of the transistor Q, and thus it can be reduced by f/j·k·l as compared with the prior art. The voltage on the power line of the block is reduced from V_(CH) by ΔV which is determined by the ratio between j·k·l·W and f·W and subthreshold swing as shown in FIG. 17. This ΔV is different from that in FIG. 6.

The transistor Q is provided so that the subthreshold currents in both the standby mode and operating mode can be minimized at a time like the transistor Q in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5A. Thus, the current limiting function becomes a three-stage function. The subthreshold current in the standby mode is not dependent on j, k and l, and thus the relation of j, k and l can be established to be l≈k·d≈j·e under the conditions that the subthreshold current in the standby mode is small and that the subthreshold current in the operating mode is the minimum.

Table 2 lists the current values obtained for a 16 gigabit DRAM. The parameters used are as follows. The threshold voltage V_(T) which is defined by a voltage at which a current of 10 nA flows in a gate width of 5 μm is -0.12 V, the subthreshold swing S is 97 mV/dec., the junction temperature T is 75° C., the effective gate length L_(eff) is 0.15 μm, the gate oxide film thickness T_(0X) is 4 nm, the word voltage V_(CH) is 1.75 V, and the source voltage V_(cc) is 1 V. According to this invention, the subthreshold current in the operating mode can be reduced to about 1/350 as small as about 700 mA in the prior art, or about 2 mA, and the subthreshold current in the standby mode can be reduced to about 1/33000 that in the prior art, or about 20 μA.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         Operating   Standby  Amount of charge                                          current     current  to charge                                                 (I.sub.A)   (I.sub.S)                                                                               t.sub.1   t.sub.2                                                                               t.sub.3                                  ______________________________________                                         Prior j · k · l · i                                                 j · k · l · i                                                0       0      0                                      art   (695 mA)  (695 mA)                                                       This  l · i +                                                                         f · i                                                                          C.sub.S1 · ΔV"                                                          C.sub.B1 · ΔV'                                                         C.sub.1 · ΔV            inven-                                                                               (k - 1) ·                                                                       (21.2 μA)                                                   tion  d · i +                                                               (j - 1) · e ·                                                i (1.99 mA)                                                              ______________________________________                                          (These values are expected ones of a 16 Gb DRAM.)                        

FIG. 18 shows operating waveforms. In the standby mode (Φ, Φ_(s1) through Φ_(sj), Φ_(B1) through Φ_(Bk) : V_(CH)), the transistors Q, Q_(s1) through Q_(sj) and Q_(B1) through Q_(bk) are substantially in the off-state. Thus, the power line P is at a lower voltage V_(CH) -delta V" lower than V_(CH), the power lines P_(S1) through P_(sj) at a further lower voltage V_(CH) -ΔV' than that, and P_(B1) through P_(Bk) at a further much lower voltage V_(CH) -ΔV. All the word lines are fixed to a voltage V_(ss) independently of the voltage of the power lines P_(B1) through P_(Bk). When the external clock signal /RAS (here "/" indicates the bar signal) is turned on, the transistor Q is turned on at Φ, permitting the parasitic capacitance C of the power line P to be charged for time t1 to reach V_(CH). Then, the transistor Q_(s1) is turned on at Φ_(s1), permitting the parasitic capacitance C_(s1) of the power line P_(s1) to be charged for time t₂ to reach V_(CH). In addition, the transistor Q_(B1) is turned on at Φ_(B1), permitting the parasitic capacitance C_(B1) of the power line P_(B1) to be charged for time t₃ to reach B_(CH). At this time, the transistors Q_(s2) through Qsj and Q_(B2) through Q_(Bk) remain almost in the off-state. Thereafter, the word driver #1 is selected by the X decoder output signal X₁, driving the word line. When the external clock signal /RAS is turned off, the transistors Q, Q_(s1) and Q_(B1) are turned off. The power lines P, P_(s1) and P_(B1), after lapse of a long time, become at V_(CH) -ΔV", V_(CH) -ΔV' and V_(CH) -ΔV. Here, the power lines (P, P₁) can be charged to V_(CH) without reducing the access time because delta V" is as small as several hundred mv even if C is large and because the charging time t₁ for P can be maintained to be long enough immediately after the external clock signal /RAS is turned on. Moreover, since the arrangement is formed of sectors and blocks, the parasitic capacitance C_(s1), C_(B1) are relatively small and thus the charging time (t₂, t₃) for P_(s1), P_(B1) can be decreased.

In this embodiment, it is also desired that all substrate for the p-channel MOS transistors be connected to V_(CH) as is similar to the one-dimensional arrangement. In this case, the amount of charge necessary for charging the power lines is smaller and the charging time can be more reduced, than when the substrate is connected to the power lines to which the drains are connected. As described above, when the voltages on the power lines for the nonselected blocks are reduced by ΔV from V_(CH), the threshold voltages of the p-channel MOS transistors within the nonselected blocks are increased by the body effect. Since the threshold voltages are increased in addition to the fact that the source voltage is lower than the gate voltage, the same current reducing effect can be achieved by small Δ V as compared with the case in which the substrate voltage is equal to the drain voltage.

Since the word voltage V_(CH) is produced by boosting the source voltage V_(cc), a higher voltage than in the other circuits is applied to the gates of the MOS transistors of the word drivers. Thus, the V_(T) can be increased the more and the current can be decreased. However, the operating speed can be slightly decreased.

This drawback can be negligibly obviated by decreasing the threshold voltage of the transistors within the word driver and by increasing the threshold voltage of the transistors used as switching transistors to a higher voltage than that. If the threshold voltages of the transistors Q, Q_(s1) through Q_(sj) and Q_(B1) through Q_(Bk) shown in FIG. 16 are increased to be higher than those of the transistors within the word driver and if d, e and f are set at large values, the operating speed can be prevented from being decreased due to the on-resistance of the switch, and also the subthreshold current can be further decreased. This is because the subthreshold current is exponentially affected by the threshold voltage at the off-state, but the on-resistance is affected only linearly. If the charging time t₁, t₂, t₃ in FIG. 18 can be assured irrespective of whether the gate capacitance increases with the increase of gate width, the operating speed cannot be reduced. Therefore, the subthreshold current can be further reduced without decreasing the operating speed. There is also no problem with the layout area because the number of elements is relatively small. In some case, the standby current can be reduced by using a high threshold voltage transistor for the transistor Q.

In this embodiment, while a single p-channel MOS transistor is used as a switch, other various elements or circuits can be considered provided that they meet the following two conditions.

(1) When the switch is selected: when the switch is assumed to be short-circuited, the current driving ability of the switch is greater than the active current (the subthreshold current and the charging current of the word line selected) flowing in the load (for example, a single word driver for the block selecting switch) of the switch.

(2) When the switch is not selected: when the switch is assumed to be short-circuited, the current supplying ability of the switch is smaller than the standby current (the subthreshold current) flowing in the load.

The impedance should be changed to a low value and a large value upon selection and upon non-selection, respectively so that these two conditions can be met.

In the operation shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, the voltages Φ, Φ_(s1), Φ_(B1) are left low and the transistors Q, Q_(s1), Q_(B1) are kept on during the active period in which the clock signal /RAS is 0 V. This operation can be achieved if the voltage Φ is controlled by the signal which is produced by the clock /RAS and which specifies the operating mode at the active time and at the standby time, and if the voltages Φ_(s1) and Φ_(B1) are controlled by a combination signal of that signal and an address signal. In addition, by using the signal for specifying the period from when the clock /RAS falls off to when the driving of the word line ends, after the word line driving it is possible that the voltages Φ, Φ_(s1), Φ_(B1) are increased to V_(CH) and that the transistors Q, Q_(s1), Q_(B1) are turned off. Thus, even at the active time the subthreshold current after the word line driving can be reduced to the same extent as the standby current I_(s). This effect is the larger, the longer the active period in which the clock /RAS is 0 V. In this case, in order to make rewriting in the memory cell, it is necessary that the voltages Φ, Φ_(s1), Φ_(B1) be reduced for a constant period of time from the leading edge of the clock /RAS so that the transistors Q, Q_(s1), Q_(B1) are turned on.

FIG. 19 shows an arrangement in which 512 word drivers are divided into four blocks. That is, 512 memory cells (MC₁ through MC₅₁₂) are provided for a pair of data lines, and selected by 512 word lines. The memory cells are arranged at a high density by reducing the word line width and the spacing between the word lines to the same extent as the feature size. Therefore, the word drivers cannot be laid out at the same pitch as the word lines, and thus they are generally laid out substantially in four separate stages. In FIG. 19, each stage of the layout corresponds to the block (B₁ through B₄) of the word drivers. The layout area is not increased if separate power lines are used for the blocks. Thus, the value of l can be made smaller than the memory cell count per data line pair. It will be clear that this value can be contrarily increased, and thus the degree of freedom of the value of l is large. Therefore, the subthreshold current I_(A) upon operation can be minimized by properly setting the l, (k·d) and (j·e).

The two-dimensional arrangement of word drivers has been mentioned above. This arrangement can be applied to the following case.

FIG. 20 shows an example of the hierarchical type power line system of the same two-dimensional arrangement applied to decoders as in FIG. 16. An AND circuit is formed of two stages of a NAND circuit and inverter of a CMOS logic circuit. The feature of this arrangement is that the hierarchical type power lines are provided on both sides of V_(cc) and V_(ss). All NAND circuits produce V_(cc) in the standby mode, and a small number of the NAND circuits produce 0 V in the operating mode. Since the subthreshold current is determined by the n-channel MOS transistor on V_(ss) side, the hierarchical type power lines are used on V_(ss) side. On the contrary, all the inverters produce 0 V in the standby mode, and a small number of ones of the inverters produce V_(cc) in the operating mode. Since the subthreshold current is determined by the p-channel MOS transistor, the hierarchical type power lines are used on V_(cc) side. Thus, since the hierarchical type power lines are used on both sides of V_(cc) and V_(ss), use of multiple-stage logic circuits will not make the operation unstable and the subthreshold current can be reduced.

Even in the circuit operating at around the central point of Vcc/2 such as the sense amplifier drive circuit, this invention is applied to both sides of V_(cc) and V_(ss), thus reducing the subthreshold current. This invention can be applied to a circuit group if the circuits of the circuit group output the same voltage in the standby mode, and if a small number of ones of the circuits are operated in the operating mode. At this time, all the circuits are not necessary to be of the same transistor size, but may be of different configurations. In addition, the number of circuits within the block and the number of blocks within the sector may be different.

When a plurality of circuits are simultaneously operated, a plurality of circuits within a single block may be operated or a plurality of blocks may be selected at a time. In addition, the transistors operating as switches may be grouped into a plurality of blocks and arranged separately. In this case, the interconnection resistance can be reduced by using power lines of a short length, and thus the power lines of the selected block can be charged in a short time.

Another example will be mentioned in which both the one-dimensional selection and the two-dimensional selection can be made in one semiconductor integrated circuit. FIG. 21 schematically shows an application of the invention to the hierarchical type word line structure. The hierarchical type word line structure is described in 1993 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference, Digest of Technical Papers, pp.50-51 (February 1993) or in Eighteenth European Solid State Circuits Conference, proceedings, pp.131-134 (September 1992).

The main drivers are formed of j blocks MB₁ through MB_(j) of one driver each. The NMOS transistors Q_(M1) through Q_(Mj) are block selection transistors. The subword drivers are formed of J·k blocks of one driver each in a matrix shape. In addition, these blocks are divided into j sectors SS₁ through SS_(j) of k blocks SB₁ through SB_(k) each. The PMOS transistors of row address drivers RLD₁ through RLD_(j) serve as sector selecting transistors, and the PMOS transistors of subcolumn drivers SCLD₁ through SCLD_(k) serve as block selecting transistors.

The operation will be mentioned. For example, the subcolumn driver SCLD₁ is selected, and the subcolumn address line SCL₁ is driven, by the main column address line MCL₁ and the row address line RL₁ driven by the row address driver RLD₁. In addition, a subword driver is selected to drive one subword line SWL, and the memory cell MC is selected, by the subcolumn address line SCL₁ and main word line MWL.

The subthreshold current after the subword line SWL is driven is, as described above, reduced by the one-dimensional selection of the main word driver block and the two-dimensional selection of the subword driver block. In other words, this current is the sum of the current of l·i_(M) flowing in the nonselected block MB₁ of the main word driver, the current of (j-l)·a·i_(M) flowing in the nonselected blocks MB₂ through MB_(j) of the main word driver, the current of l·i_(s) flowing in the selected block SB₁ of the selected sector SS₁ of the subword driver, the current of (k-l)·a·i_(s) flowing in the nonselected blocks SB₂ through SB_(k) of the selected sector SS₁ of the subword driver, and the current of (j-l)·b·i_(s) flowing in the nonselected sectors SS₂ through SS_(j) of the main word driver.

The reason why the block selection transistor of the main word driver is provided as an NMOS transistor on the ground side is that since the nonselected main word driver produces V_(CH), the subthreshold current is determined by the NMOS transistor on the ground side.

The subword drivers are originally two-dimensionally arranged, and the selection lines therefor serve both as themselves and as power lines. Thus, the two-dimensional selection of the invention can be easily applied to the subword drivers. Moreover, since the number is large, the effect of reducing the subthreshold current is great. In this case, if the main word drivers are divided likewise, the one-dimensional selection of the invention can be realized. In that case, since the signal for selecting the blocks of the main word drivers is the complementary signal of the signal for selecting the sector of the subword drivers, it can be generated by a common circuit.

The hierarchical type word line arrangement has the effect that the charging and discharging currents can be reduced by decreasing the number of the memory cells to be selected as compared with the conventional word line construction. In addition, the hierarchical type word line arrangement is suitable in the application of the selective power supplying of the invention for reducing the subthreshold current.

In this embodiment, the column address lines are hierarchically arranged. Therefore, the interconnection resistance and capacitance of the subcolumn address lines are small, and thus the operation speed can be increased. One of the advantages of the hierarchical type word line structure is that the interconnection delay of the subword lines is small enough for high operation speed. In this embodiment, the hierarchical type word line structure is further improved for high speed operation.

This invention can be applied not only to the DRAM, but also to the static random access memory (SRAM), the read only memory (ROM), the flush memory and the memory-incorporated logic LSI. This invention is also applied to other logic circuits than the CMOS circuits such as n-channel MOS logic circuits. While a positive voltage of 2.5 V relative to ground potential is applied as the operating voltage as above, a negative voltage relative to ground potential may be applied as the operating voltage. This invention can be applied to a semiconductor integrated circuit which is operated under a negative voltage of which the absolute value is lower than 2.5 V, or for example, under -2 V.

According to this invention, as will be obvious from the above description, a semiconductor integrated circuit can be realized which can reduce the subthreshold current without decreasing the operating speed, and make high speed operation with a low consumption power. The effect of the invention is the greater, the less the threshold voltage. In the LSI in which the constant-current threshold voltage at which the subthreshold current becomes dominant in the active current is less than about 0.2 V (the extrapolated threshold voltage is lower than about 0.4 V), the effect is great. In other words, the threshold voltage is necessary to be determined from the view point of the operating speed when the operating voltage is about 2.5 V or below or from the scaling rule when the gate length is about 0.25 μm or below, and hence the effect is extremely large in that LSI. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A semiconductor integrated circuit including a plurality of MOS transistors, wherein in each of said plurality of MOS transistors, first and second voltages are applied to a gate, and a drain current is larger when said second voltage is applied to the gate than when said first voltage is applied, and a leakage current flows between a drain and a source when said first voltage is applied to the gate, comprising:a first circuit terminal applied with a first operating potential; a second circuit terminal applied with a second operating potential; a plurality of circuit blocks each of which has a first power supply terminal, a second power supply terminal coupled to said second circuit terminal, and at least one of said plurality of MOS transistors having a source-drain path which is coupled between said first power supply terminal and said second power supply terminal; a plurality of current limiting means each of which has a power supply terminal coupled to said first circuit terminal, and an output terminal coupled to said first power supply terminal of one of said plurality of circuit blocks, respectively; and a control circuit for controlling each of said plurality of current limiting means to assume a first state or a second state; wherein when one of said plurality of current limiting means is in the first state, a current which flows through said one of said plurality of current limiting means and said second circuit terminal in a case that said first power supply terminal and said second power supply terminal of corresponding one of said plurality of circuit blocks are short-circuited is smaller than a current which flows through said first circuit terminal and said corresponding one of said plurality of circuit blocks in a case that said power supply terminal and said output terminal of said one of said plurality of current limiting means are short-circuited, wherein when one of said plurality of current limiting means is in the second state, a current which flows through said one of said plurality of current limiting means and said second circuit terminal in a case that said first power supply terminal and said second power supply terminal of corresponding one of said plurality of circuit blocks are short-circuited is larger than a current which flows through said first circuit terminal and said corresponding one of said plurality of circuit blocks in a case that said power supply terminal and said output terminal of said one of said plurality of current limiting means are short-circuited, and wherein said control circuit is capable of controlling said plurality of current limiting means so that at least one of said plurality of current limiting means is in the first state and at least another one of said plurality of current limiting means is in the second state.
 2. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 1, further comprising:a third circuit terminal; common current limiting means having a power supply terminal coupled to said third circuit terminal, and an output terminal coupled to said first circuit terminal; and a common control circuit for controlling said common current limiting means to assume a first state or a second state, wherein when said common current limiting means is in the first state, a current which flows through said common current limiting means in a case that said first circuit terminal and said second circuit terminal are short-circuited is smaller than a current which flows from said third circuit terminal through said plurality of current limiting means and said plurality of circuit blocks in a case that said power supply terminal and said output terminal of said common current limiting means are short-circuited, and wherein when said common current limiting means is in the second state, a current which flows through said common current limiting means in a case that said first circuit terminal and said second circuit terminal are short-circuited is larger than a current which flows from said third circuit terminal through said plurality of current limiting means and said plurality of circuit blocks in a case that said power supply terminal and said output terminal of said common current limiting means are short-circuited.
 3. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 1,wherein each of said plurality of circuit blocks comprises: a plurality of circuit sub-blocks each of which has a first power supply terminal, a second power supply terminal coupled to the second power supply terminal of said each circuit block, and at least one of said MOS transistors having a source-drain path which is coupled between said first power supply terminal and said second power supply terminal, a plurality of sub-current-limiting means each of which has a power supply terminal coupled to the first power supply terminal of said each circuit block, and an output terminal coupled to said first supply terminal of one of said plurality of circuit sub-blocks respectively, and a sub-control circuit for controlling each of said plurality of sub-current-limiting means to assume a first state or a second state, wherein when one of said plurality of sub-current-limiting means is in the first state, a current which flows through said one of said plurality of sub-current-limiting means and said second power supply terminal of said each circuit block in a case that said first power supply terminal and said second power supply terminal of a corresponding one of said plurality of circuit sub-blocks are short-circuited is smaller than a current which flows through said first power supply terminal of said each circuit block and said corresponding one of said plurality of circuit sub-blocks in a case that said power supply terminal and said output terminal of said one of said plurality of sub-current-limiting means are short-circuited, wherein when one of said plurality of sub-current-limiting means is in the second state, a current which flows through said one of said plurality of sub-current-limiting means and a second power supply terminal of said each circuit block in a case that said first power supply terminal and said second power supply terminal of a corresponding one of said plurality of circuit sub-blocks are short-circuited is larger than a current which flows through said first power terminal of said each circuit block and said corresponding one of said plurality of circuit sub-blocks in a case that said power supply terminal and said output terminal of said one of said plurality of sub-current-limiting means are short-circuited, and wherein said sub-control circuit is capable of controlling said plurality of sub-current-limiting means so that at least one of said sub-current-limiting means is in the first state and at least another one of said plurality of sub-current-limiting means is in the second state.
 4. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 1, further comprising:a plurality of column lines and a plurality of row lines for selecting at least one of said plurality of current limiting means, wherein said plurality of current limiting means are arranged in a matrix shape.
 5. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 1,wherein each of said plurality of current limiting means includes a MOS transistor whose source-drain path is coupled between said power supply terminal and said output terminal of said each current limiting means, wherein an absolute value of a threshold voltage of said MOS transistor in said each current limiting means is larger than an absolute value of a threshold voltage of said MOS transistor included in each of said plurality of circuit blocks, and wherein said threshold voltage is a constant current threshold voltage defined by a gate-source voltage at which a drain current having an absolute value of 10 nA flows at room temperature when a ratio between an effective gate width and an effective gate length is
 30. 6. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 1, further comprising:voltage generating means for generating said first or said second operating potential.
 7. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 6,wherein said voltage generating means includes a voltage boosting circuit for boosting a voltage supplied externally.
 8. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 6,wherein said voltage generating means includes a voltage limiting circuit for limiting a voltage supplied externally.
 9. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 1,wherein an absolute value of the differences between said first operating potential and said second operating potential is 2.5 V or below.
 10. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 1,wherein an absolute value of a power supply voltage applied externally is 2.5 V or below.
 11. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 1,wherein each of said plurality of circuit blocks includes at least one output terminal, and wherein a voltage delivered to said output terminal is substantially equal to a voltage which is delivered to said output terminal in a case that a corresponding one of said plurality of current limiting means is short-circuited.
 12. A semiconductor integrated circuit including a plurality of MOS transistors, wherein in each of said plurality of MOS transistors, a voltage in a range from a first voltage to a second voltage is applied to a gate, and a drain current is larger when said second voltage is applied to the gate than when said first voltage is applied, and a leakage current flows between a drain and a source when said first voltage is applied to the gate, comprising:a first circuit terminal applied with a first operating potential; a second circuit terminal applied with a second operating potential; a plurality of circuit blocks each of which has a first power supply terminal, a second power supply terminal coupled to said second circuit terminal, and at least one of said plurality of MOS transistors having a source-drain path which is coupled between said first power supply terminal and said second power supply terminal; a plurality of current limiting means each of which has a power supply terminal coupled to said first circuit terminal, an output terminal coupled to said first power supply terminal of one of said plurality of circuit blocks, respectively, and a MOS transistor having a source-drain path which is coupled between said power supply terminal and said output terminal of said each current limiting means; and a control circuit for controlling each of said plurality of current limiting means to assume a first state or a second state, wherein a gate width of said MOS transistor in said each current limiting means is smaller than a sum of a gate width of one or more of MOS transistors coupled to said first power supply terminal in a corresponding one of said plurality of circuit blocks, wherein each of said plurality of current limiting means, when it is in the first state, limits a current flowing through a corresponding one of said plurality of circuit blocks to a sufficiently small absolute value, wherein each of said plurality of current limiting means, when it is in the second states, allows a current of sufficiently large absolute value to flow through a corresponding one of said plurality of current blocks, and wherein said control circuit is capable of controlling said plurality of current limiting means so that at least one of said plurality of current limiting means is in the first state and at least another one of said plurality of current limiting means is in the second state.
 13. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 12, further comprising:a third circuit terminal; and common current limiting means having a power supply terminal coupled to said third circuit terminal, an output terminal coupled to said first circuit terminal, and a MOS transistor having a source-drain path which is coupled between said power supply terminal and said output terminal, wherein a gate width of said MOS transistor in said common current limiting means is smaller than a sum of gate widths of MOS transistors included in said plurality of current limiting means connected to said common current limiting means.
 14. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 12,wherein each of said plurality of circuit blocks comprises: a plurality of circuit sub-blocks each of which has a first power supply terminal, a second power supply terminal coupled to the second power supply terminal of said each circuit block, and at least one of said MOS transistors having a source-drain path which is coupled between said first power supply terminal and said second power supply terminal; a plurality of sub-current-limiting means each of which has a power supply terminal coupled to the first power supply terminal of said each circuit block, an output terminal coupled to said first power supply terminal of one of said plurality of circuit sub-blocks respectively, and a MOS transistor having a source-drain path which is coupled between said power supply terminal and said output terminal; and a sub-control circuit for controlling each of said sub-current-limiting means to assume a first state or a second state, wherein a gate width of said MOS transistor in each of said sub-current-limiting means is smaller than a sum of a gate width of one or more of MOS transistors connected to said first power supply terminal in a corresponding one of said plurality of circuit sub-blocks, wherein each of said plurality of sub-current-limiting means, when it is in the first state, controls a current flowing through a corresponding one of said plurality of circuit sub-blocks to a sufficiently small absolute value, wherein each of said plurality of sub-current-limiting means, when it is in the second state, allows a current of a sufficiently large absolute value to flow through a corresponding one of said plurality of circuit sub-blocks, and wherein said sub-control circuit is capable of controlling said plurality of sub-current-limiting means so that at least one of said plurality of sub-current-limiting means is in the first state, and at least another one of said plurality of sub-current-limiting means is in the second state.
 15. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 13, further comprising:a plurality of column lines and a plurality of row lines for selecting at least one of said plurality of current limiting means, wherein said plurality of current limiting means are arranged in a matrix shape.
 16. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 12,wherein said MOS transistor, which is included in each of said plurality of circuit blocks and in which the leakage current flows, has a substrate applied with a predetermined voltage.
 17. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 12,wherein said MOS transistor, which is included in each of said plurality of circuit blocks and in which the leakage current flows, has a threshold voltage of 0.2 V or below, and wherein said threshold voltage is a constant current threshold voltage defined by a gate-source voltage at which a drain current having an absolute value of 10 nA flows at room temperature when a ratio between an effective gate width and an effective gate length is
 30. 18. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 12,wherein said MOS transistor, which is included in each of said plurality of circuit blocks and in which the leakage current flows, has a gate oxide film having a film thickness of 6 nm or less.
 19. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 12,wherein said MOS transistor, which is included in each of said plurality of circuit blocks and in which the leakage current flows, has an effective channel length of 0.25 μm or less.
 20. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 12,wherein when one of said plurality of current limiting means is in said first state, a voltage of said output terminal of said one of said plurality of current limiting means is between said first operating potential and said second operating potential.
 21. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 12,wherein when one of said plurality of current limiting means is in said first state, a voltage of said output terminal of said one of said plurality of current limiting means is substantially equal to said second operating potential.
 22. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 12, further comprising:voltage generating means for generating said first or said second operating potential.
 23. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 22,wherein said voltage generating means includes a voltage boosting circuit for boosting a voltage supplied externally.
 24. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 22,wherein said voltage generating means includes a voltage limiting circuit for limiting a voltage supplied externally.
 25. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 12,wherein an absolute value of said first operating potential and said second operating potential is 2.5 V or less.
 26. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 12,wherein an absolute value of a power supply voltage which is applied externally is 2.5 V or less.
 27. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 12,wherein each of said plurality of circuit blocks comprises at least one output terminal, and wherein a voltage which is delivered to said output terminal is substantially equal to a voltage delivered to said output terminal in a case that a corresponding one of said plurality of current limiting means is short-circuited.
 28. A semiconductor integrated circuit including a plurality of MOS transistors, wherein in each of said plurality of MOS transistors, a voltage in a range from a first voltage to a second voltage is applied to a gate, and a drain current is larger when said second voltage is applied to the gate than when said first voltage is applied, and a leakage current flows between a drain and a source when said first voltage is applied to the gate, comprising:a plurality of row lines; a plurality of column lines intersecting said plurality of row lines; a multiplicity of memory cells arranged at intersections between said plurality of row lines and said plurality of column lines; a first circuit terminal applied with a first operating potential; a second circuit terminal applied with a second operating potential; a plurality of circuit blocks each of which has a first power supply terminal, a second power supply terminal coupled to said second circuit terminal, and at least one of said plurality of MOS transistors having a source-drain path which coupled between said first power supply terminal and said second power supply terminal; a plurality of current limiting means each of which has a power supply terminal coupled to said first circuit terminal, and an output terminal coupled to said first power supply terminal of one of said plurality of circuit blocks respectively; and a control circuit for controlling each of said plurality of current limiting means to assume a first state or a second state, wherein said plurality of circuit blocks constitutes a row selecting and driving circuit group for selecting at least one of said plurality of row lines, wherein each of said plurality of current limiting means, when it is in the first state, limits a current flowing through a corresponding one of said plurality of circuit blocks to a sufficiently small absolute value, wherein each of said plurality of sub-current-limiting means, when it is in the second state, allows a current having a sufficiently large absolute value to flow through a corresponding one of said plurality of circuit blocks, and wherein said control circuit is capable of controlling said plurality of current limiting means so that at least one of said plurality of current limiting means is in the first state and at least another one of said plurality of current limiting means is in the second state.
 29. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 28, further comprising:a third circuit terminal; and common current limiting means having a power supply terminal coupled to said third circuit terminal, and an output terminal coupled to said first circuit terminal.
 30. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 28,wherein each of said plurality of circuit blocks comprises: a plurality of circuit sub-blocks each of which has a first power supply terminal, a second power supply terminal coupled to the second power supply terminal of said each circuit block, and at least one of said MOS transistors having a source-drain path which is coupled between said first power supply terminal and said second power supply terminal; a plurality of sub-current-limiting means each of which has a power supply terminal coupled to the first power supply terminal of a corresponding one of said plurality of circuit sub-blocks, and an output terminal coupled to said first power supply terminal or the corresponding one of said plurality of circuit sub-blocks respectively; and a sub-control circuit for controlling each of said plurality of sub-current-limiting means to assume a first state or a second state, wherein each of said plurality of sub-current-limiting means, when it is in the first state, limits a current flowing through a corresponding one of said plurality of circuit sub-blocks to a sufficiently small absolute value, wherein each of said plurality of sub-current-limiting means, when it is in the second state, allows a current having a sufficiently large absolute value to flow through a corresponding one of said plurality of circuit sub-blocks, and wherein said sub-control circuit is capable of controlling said plurality of sub-current-limiting means so that at least one of said sub-current-limiting means is in the first state and at least another one of said plurality of sub-current-limiting means is in the second state.
 31. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 28, further comprising:a plurality of column selecting lines and a plurality of row selecting lines for selecting at least one of said plurality of current limiting means, wherein said plurality of current limiting means are arranged in a matrix shape.
 32. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 28,wherein said plurality of current limiting means are selected by a row address.
 33. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 28,wherein said multiplicity of memory cells are arranged by dividing into a plurality of memory mats, and wherein said plurality of circuit blocks of said row selecting and driving circuit group are provided respectively corresponding to said plurality of memory mats.
 34. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 28, further comprising:a third circuit terminal applied with a third operating potential; a fourth circuit terminal applied with a fourth operating potential; a plurality of second circuit blocks each of which has a first power supply terminal, a second power supply terminal coupled to said fourth circuit terminal, and at least one of said plurality of M0S transistors having a source-drain path which is coupled between said first power supply terminal and said second power supply terminal; a plurality of second current limiting means each of which has a power supply terminal coupled to said third circuit terminal, and an output terminal coupled to said first power supply terminal of one of said plurality of second circuit blocks, respectively; and a second control circuit for controlling each of said plurality of second current limiting means to assume a first state or a second state; wherein said plurality of second circuit blocks constitute a column selecting circuit group for selecting at least one of said plurality of column lines, wherein each of said plurality of second current limiting means, when it is in the first state, limits a current flowing through a corresponding one of said second circuit blocks to a current having a sufficiently small absolute value, wherein each of said plurality of second circuit limiting means, when it is in the second state, allows a current having a sufficiently large absolute value to flow through a corresponding one of said second circuit blocks, and wherein said second control circuit is capable of controlling said plurality of second current limiting means so that at least one of said plurality of second current limiting means is in the first state and at least another one of said plurality of second current limiting means is in the second state.
 35. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 28, further comprising:a plurality of sense amplifiers provided to respectively correspond to said plurality of column lines, each of said plurality of sense amplifiers amplifying a signal on a corresponding one of said plurality of column lines; a third circuit terminal applied with a third operating potential; a fourth circuit terminal applied with a fourth operating potential; a plurality of second circuit blocks each of which has a first power supply terminal, a second power supply terminal coupled to said fourth circuit terminal, and at least one of said plurality of MOS transistors having a source-drain path which is coupled between said first power supply terminal and said second power supply terminal; a plurality of second current limiting means each of which has a power supply terminal coupled to said third circuit terminal, and an output terminal coupled to said first power supply terminal of one of said plurality of second circuit blocks respectively; a second control circuit for controlling each of said plurality of second current limiting means to assume a first state or a second state, wherein said plurality of second circuit blocks constitute a sense amplifier driving circuit group for driving said plurality of sense amplifiers, wherein each of said plurality of second current limiting means, when it is in the first state, limits a current flowing through a corresponding one of said second circuit blocks to a sufficiently small absolute value, wherein each of said plurality of second current limiting means, when it is in the second state, allows a current having a sufficiently large absolute value to flow through a corresponding one of said plurality of second circuit blocks, and wherein said second control circuit is capable of controlling said plurality of second current limiting means so that at least one of said plurality of second current limiting means is in the first state, and at least another one of said plurality of second current limiting means is in the second state.
 36. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 28,wherein each of said multiplicity of memory cells consists of one transistor and one capacitor.
 37. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 36,wherein a number of said multiplicity of memory cells in 64 mega or more.
 38. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 28,wherein said MOS transistor, which is included in each of said plurality of circuit blocks and in which the leakage current flows, has a substrate applied with a predetermined voltage.
 39. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 28,wherein said MOS transistor, which is included in each of said plurality of circuit blocks and in which the leakage current flows, has a threshold voltage of 0.2 V or below, and wherein said threshold voltage is a constant current threshold voltage defined by a gate-source voltage at which a drain current having an absolute value of 10 nA flows at room temperature when a ratio between an effective gate width and an effective gate length is
 30. 40. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 28,wherein said MOS transistor, which is included in each of said plurality of circuit blocks and in which the leakage current flows, has a gate oxide film having a film thickness of 6 nm or less.
 41. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 28,wherein said MOS transistor, which is included in each of said plurality of circuit blocks and in which the leakage current flows, has an effective channel length of 0.25 μm or less.
 42. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 28, further comprising:voltage generating means for generating said first or said second operating potential.
 43. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 28,wherein said voltage generating means includes a voltage boosting circuit for boosting a voltage supplied externally.
 44. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 28,wherein said voltage generating means includes a voltage limiting circuit for limiting a voltage supplied externally.
 45. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 28,wherein an absolute value of a power supply voltage applied externally is 2.5 V or below.
 46. A semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 28,wherein each of said plurality of circuit blocks includes at least one output terminal, and wherein a voltage which is delivered to said output terminal is substantially equal to a voltage which is delivered to said output terminal in a case that a corresponding one of said plurality of current limiting means is short-circuited. 